Houses

This week has been crazy so I will have to wait until next week to do my update from the past week. We got our insurance figured out (we're going to pay to extend Joe's current insurance after he quits his job until his new insurance kicks in on August 1st) - so Joe's official start date at his new job is June 13th (he wasn't able to get the 20th like what we'd hoped). He plans to give notice at his current job tomorrow/this Friday (which would be three weeks from his last day, June 10).

Meanwhile, I've been starting to pack and corresponding with a realtor and lender in West Des Moines, as well as looking at houses online. Unfortunately, there are not as many to choose from as there are here in Omaha. Also, the housing for the $ is better here (our price range is $15K-$65K more than what we bought our current house at 4 yrs ago, which was brand new at the time, but chances are the house we buy in Iowa will be older and smaller), but there ARE some houses we like so we should be able to find something. Here are the 7 houses we will be seeing in person this Saturday (in random order):

1) (13 min from Joe's new office). Built in 2004, this is a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house with 2,986 Total Finished Square Feet. Whirlpool tub in master bathroom. Finished basement with daylight windows, fireplace, and full bath. Irrigation system. Cul de sac. Johnston Schools. Second most expensive house on our list. Nothing behind the backyard:

2) (11 min from Joe's new office). Built in 2003, this house has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with 3535 finished square feet. Invisible fencing (although we might still need to build one if we bought this house - not sure how our dogs would do with it), irrigation system, finished basement with bathroom and walkout, whirlpool tub in master bath, 2nd floor laundry, big deck, sitting area in master bedroom, built in bookshelves in the office, and three of the bathrooms are upstairs - one for guest, one for kids, and one for Joe & me. Most expensive house on our list.

3) (14 minutes from Joe's office). Built in 2004, this 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house has 2920 finished square feet. It is almost in the country so there is nothing behind it. 2nd floor laundry. Jet tub in masterbath and finished basement. Third most expensive house on our list. Love the kitchen:


4) (8 min from Joe's new office). Built in 2002, this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house has 2256 finished square feet. Walkout basement (that is currently unfinished) and a bonus room upstairs (in addition to the 4 bedrooms), as well as an irrigation system. Sixth most expensive house on our list - which means second cheapest.

5) (16 min from Joe's new office). Built in 2003, this 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home has 3024 finished square feet. The only house on our list with a fenced yard! Whirlpool in master bath. 2nd floor laundry. Finished basement. On a cul-de-sac. Fifth most expensive house.

6)(13 min from Joe's new office). This house is new construction - almost done being built so we'd be able to move in right away. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms -- although our realtor said that the builder would finish the basement with another bathroom for $15K more (this house is currently the cheapest on our list so we could do that). Apparently this is in a great location, possibly a community with its own pool and park, etc. 2nd floor laundry room. Whirlpool tub in master bathroom. No irrigation system, but there is a landscaping allowance provided. Nothing currently behind it.

7) (12 min from Joe's new office). This house is new construction - we'd be able to move in right away. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms with 2097 finished square feet (there is a stub for a 4th bathroom in the unfinished basement). Jet tub in master bath. Of course since it's new there is no irrigation system. Fourth most expensive house on our list.

We are anxious to see these houses in person this weekend to see if any of them are the one!